Facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix
Encyclopedia
The University of Namur or Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP) , in Namur
(Belgium
), is a Jesuit, Catholic private university
in the French Community of Belgium
. Both teaching and research are carried out in six Faculties or university level schools in the fields of
In 29 June 2003, the FUNDP joined a network with three other French speaking, Catholic institutions in Belgium, the Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons
, the Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis
and the Université catholique de Louvain
forming the Académie Louvain
. Explorations developed in 2007 for combining all four into one university, the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain). The plan for fusion was accepted by the three other institutions but in 17 December 2010 the FUNDP General Assembly failed to give the 80% needed for ratification.
, Belgium. The main campus is located at the heart of the city of Namur, capital of Wallonia, although there are also other FUNDP satellite campuses to be found in other cities such as Charleroi
(known as Charleroi Antenna). The main university campus includes the university building, the six main faculties and the university libraries.
reopened a high school in what was earlier the Our-Lady of Peace benedictine
abbey, in Namur. The school immediately developed into a college with the support of prominent Namurian
families. They put some conditions in order to finance the new project, the most important is teaching other sciences such as philosophy with the liberty of education as proclaimed by the new Belgian Constitution.
Starting in 1960, after the introduction of new national financing laws, government aid increased and became regular. Many new projects and programmes came into being, improving the university's national and European visibility.
the biggest university in Belgium and located in Louvain-La-Neuve
, the Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis (FUSL) located in Brussels and the Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons (FUCAM) located in Mons and Charleroi are going to form a new united university.
Negotiations started in September 2007 and they should lead to the creation of a new university which should be called Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) (campuses might be identified as UCL/Brussels, UCL/Namur, UCL/Louvain-la-Neuve, UCL/Mons and UCL/Charleroi). The four universities are already part of a common group, the "Academie Louvain". Within this group, member universities have coordinated their masters programmes in the fields of economics, management, political sciences and sciences.
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
), is a Jesuit, Catholic private university
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
in the French Community of Belgium
French Community of Belgium
The French Community of Belgium is one of the three official communities in Belgium along with the Flemish Community and the German speaking Community. Although its name could suggest that it is a community of French citizens in Belgium, it is not...
. Both teaching and research are carried out in six Faculties or university level schools in the fields of
- Philosophy and Lettres,
- Law,
- Economic, Social, and Management Sciences,
- Information Technologies,
- Sciences
- Medicine
In 29 June 2003, the FUNDP joined a network with three other French speaking, Catholic institutions in Belgium, the Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons
Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons
The Catholic university of Mons is a private university in the French Community of Belgium in Mons, Wallonia, Belgium. Its official language is French....
, the Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis
Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis
The Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis in Brussels, Belgium is a public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French...
and the Université catholique de Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
forming the Académie Louvain
Académie Louvain
LAcadémie Louvain is the network of French-speaking catholic universities in Belgium. It was formed following the Bologna process to reform higher-level education...
. Explorations developed in 2007 for combining all four into one university, the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain). The plan for fusion was accepted by the three other institutions but in 17 December 2010 the FUNDP General Assembly failed to give the 80% needed for ratification.
Geography and Location
The University of Namur is located in NamurNamur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
, Belgium. The main campus is located at the heart of the city of Namur, capital of Wallonia, although there are also other FUNDP satellite campuses to be found in other cities such as Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
(known as Charleroi Antenna). The main university campus includes the university building, the six main faculties and the university libraries.
Foundation 1831-1846
In the spring of 1831, the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
reopened a high school in what was earlier the Our-Lady of Peace benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey, in Namur. The school immediately developed into a college with the support of prominent Namurian
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
families. They put some conditions in order to finance the new project, the most important is teaching other sciences such as philosophy with the liberty of education as proclaimed by the new Belgian Constitution.
First expansions (1846-1928)
Many expansions took place in this period, the number of students increased gradually, new sciences and study programmes were introduced.Sensible progress (1929-1947)
The New Belgian law excluded the institution from getting financial support from the government. This pushed the ambitious university to rely on its own sources and funds. Despite this, in 1934, many projects were launched: new building specific to physical and chemical studies, the expansion of Bells-Lettres library, modernization of some laboratories, many new titles were added to the seminars library.Resuming the expansion (1948-1970)
On February 18th 1948, the institution, formerly a college, changed its status to that of a university. This new status resulted in having some (limited and irregular) financial aid from the government.Starting in 1960, after the introduction of new national financing laws, government aid increased and became regular. Many new projects and programmes came into being, improving the university's national and European visibility.
The big expansion (1971-1991)
The university launched many important projects:- 1971: Institute of Computer Science (now called Faculty of Computer Science): the first of its kind in Belgium and one of the leading institutions in Europe.
- 1972: Faculty of Law.
- 1974: Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Medicine.
- 1979: New university library Moretus Plantin (more than 800,000 title at the time).
- 1990: Construction of Pedro Arrupe new amphitheater.
Prospects
According to a 2007 agreement, the University of Namur with other three french-speaking catholic universities and colleges: Université Catholique de LouvainUniversité catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
the biggest university in Belgium and located in Louvain-La-Neuve
Louvain-la-Neuve
Louvain-la-Neuve is a planned city in the municipality of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, situated 30 km southeast of Brussels, in the French-speaking part of the country...
, the Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis (FUSL) located in Brussels and the Facultés universitaires catholiques de Mons (FUCAM) located in Mons and Charleroi are going to form a new united university.
Negotiations started in September 2007 and they should lead to the creation of a new university which should be called Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) (campuses might be identified as UCL/Brussels, UCL/Namur, UCL/Louvain-la-Neuve, UCL/Mons and UCL/Charleroi). The four universities are already part of a common group, the "Academie Louvain". Within this group, member universities have coordinated their masters programmes in the fields of economics, management, political sciences and sciences.
Faculties and Libraries
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Computer Science
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Philosophy and Literatures
- Education and Technology Department
- Living Languages School
- Moretus Platin Library
- Law Faculty Library
- Documentation Center and Religious Research library
Notable alumni
- Jacques van Ypersele de StrihouJacques van Ypersele de StrihouJacques van Ypersele de Strihou , is the Principal Private Secretary to the King of Belgium. When Albert II of Belgium succeeded his brother Baudouin I of Belgium, he kept his private secretary, so Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou has served two kings...
, literature, private secretary of the King of Belgium
See also
- Science and technology in WalloniaScience and technology in WalloniaScience and technology in Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium , is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes.-Technology institutes:Wallonia is home to several science and technology organizations....
- CeReFiMCeReFiMCeReFiM is a research center attached to the University of Namur in Belgium. Research at the CeReFiM focuses on finance and management practices. The current head of the CeReFiM is Pr. Pierre Giot....
(Center for Research in Finance and Management) - PReCISE (Research Center in Information Systems Engineering)
- NamurNamur (city)Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
- Académie LouvainAcadémie LouvainLAcadémie Louvain is the network of French-speaking catholic universities in Belgium. It was formed following the Bologna process to reform higher-level education...
- List of universities in Belgium
- Science Parks of WalloniaScience Parks of WalloniaCreated in 2002, SPoW -Science Parks of Wallonia-, is an association of six Belgian science parks located in Wallonia:* Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park* Liège Science Park* Crealys Science Park* Aéropole Science Park* Initialis Science Park...
- Crealys Science ParkCrealys Science ParkThe Crealys Science Park is a business incubator and science park located in Gembloux, the province of Namur, Wallonia . The science park provides space and resources for high technology enterprises together with the Facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix in Namur and the Faculté...
- Education in BelgiumEducation in BelgiumEducation in Belgium is regulated and for the larger part financed by one of the three communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. The national legislator only kept a very few, minimal competences for education as the age for mandatory schooling, and, indirectly, the financing of the...